Author focuses on hope
By Patricia Bertuccio/ Staff Writer
Thursday, November 9, 2006

ACTON - When Dana Snyder-Grant found out she had multiple sclerosis, it was 1981 and she was 25 years old. Snyder-Grant couldn't understand why the disease came to her when she was supposed to be young, vibrant and happy.

Snyder-Grant's whole life changed. She stopped teaching high school history and went for a degree in social work. As a psychotherapist, Snyder-Grant dedicated her work to those with a chronic illness and disability, learning along the way how to cope with MS and to get the most of out life.

As a columnist, contributor to a national MS magazine and social worker, Snyder-Grant, 50, has written about dealing with the chronic disease and about life lessons she believes apply to anyone. In her recently self-published book, "Just Like Life, Only More So and other Stories of Illness," Snyder-Grant compiled years of her writing works to get the message out about MS and to give people whether with chronic diseases or healthy, stories of hope and courage.

The 12-year Acton resident spoke to The Beacon last week about how her life has changed with MS and what why she decided to publish her own book.

Q: Why did you decide to publish your own book? How many have you sold so far?
A: Part of being a psychotherapist and specializing in chronic illness and disability is helping people cope with their struggles. I felt I wanted to share lessons, stories and experiences. I tried to get a commercial publisher but I don't think I sent [my draft] to enough publishers. I sent it out to maybe 10 or 20. They all said it was well-written but didn't think there was a market for it. I think there is a market out there. I like to think the book is relevant beyond people with illness.

I don't know how many I've sold so far. Book Locker, the self-publisher, listed me on Amazon, but I won't see the sales for another couple of months. The book is also on sale at Willow Books [in North Acton] and they just asked for more copies. I probably sold a couple hundred so far, maybe 300.

Q: What do you think of the finished product? Is it what you expected?
A: I'm very excited about it. I love the way the book looks and the design. It came back the way I wanted it and it was very cool. Self-publishing is not easy. It was a lot of work but I love the outcome.

Q: What's the most important lesson you've learned from having MS?
A: Learning to let go of control and turnover to how my body feels. After 25 years, another big lesson is the importance of friends and family. Connecting with people are most important in life. I think there's scientific evidence about relatedness to other people.
I'm learning to stay within myself and trust my own body's messages and listen to my body. It's hard to be different in this world. We're still not in a world that accepts differences much. When I was 25, I was supposed to be healthy and vigorous and that's not something I was. I was as healthy and vigorous as I could be.

Q: How has your life changed since you were diagnosed?
A: It's a really hard question because all of my adult life, I've had MS. I can't say what life would be like if I didn't have MS. It's like saying what would life be like without your right arm. For whatever reason, I chose to use MS the best I could. If I could use it in some way to help me grow - It was such a shock [when I was diagnosed], especially for me in the first five years. I just felt I had to do something with it that would be positive because I didn't know what MS would do to me. [MORE...Author focuses on hope]